By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Australia’s cost-of-living crisis has seen even the most enthusiastic diners cutting back on their restaurant reservations and swapping hump-day bookings for home-cooked pasta. However, scaling back doesn’t have to mean missing out.
Around the country, a clutch of restaurants and bars are making it possible to enjoy a taste of luxury without the hefty price tag. From jazz and Josper grills to endless fries and steak frites, these are the midweek feasts that will keep your taste buds (and your wallet) happy.
Sydney’s Franca is proof that glamour doesn’t need to come with an eye-watering bill. The Potts Point favourite has taken its cues from Old World elegance, now adding a little extra sparkle to weekday evenings with its Jazz & Josper offering.
The star is a Moreton Bay bug roll – toasted brioche stuffed with delicate bug meat, dressed with a lick of tabasco and served alongside golden potato chips. It’s a luxe-for-less experience that tips in at just $28 with the option to dial things up by adding 10 grams of Oscietra caviar for an extra $30.
With only 10 rolls served each day between 5 pm-6 pm (Tuesday to Friday), it’s one of Sydney’s most exclusive yet surprisingly affordable indulgences.
Also in Sydney, Bistro George – part of the gleaming Jacksons on George precinct – is redefining the business lunch. Head Chef Steven Sinclair has designed a $50 two-course express menu that draws on European bistro traditions while remaining firmly Australian in spirit.
Think witlof and radicchio salad dressed with Malfroy’s wild honey or a risotto cacio e pepe studded with truffle. For mains, there’s steak frites served with O’Connor Scotch fillet or market fish brightened with beurre noisette, capers and lemon.
Served weekdays between 12 pm-3 pm, it’s a way to slip a little French-Italian sophistication into the workday without your accountant raising an eyebrow.
The Winery remains one of Sydney’s most beloved laneway bars and its weekly specials are a masterclass in playful generosity. Mondays are made for comfort with a $30 cheeseburger and Chianti combo that runs from 4 pm-8.30 pm.
The real winner might just be Fridays when every bottle of wine purchased comes with bottomless fries – no catch, no conditions, just endless golden shoestrings until 9 pm. It’s the sort of cheeky, carb-loaded offer that makes clocking off early feel very justified.
In Melbourne, Dolly at Le Meridien has built a reputation for its polished European-inspired dining, but Wednesday nights are all about one thing: steak frites. Executive Chef Hervé Borghini hails from Bordeaux, so it’s no surprise that his 250 g grass-fed Porterhouse comes with all the proper trimmings - double-cooked frites and Cafe de Paris butter.
At $32 (down from the usual $44), it’s a midweek ritual that has Melburnians booking out week after week.
Just down the road in Port Melbourne, Ciao Cielo offers something a little more romantic. Set inside a heritage-listed courthouse, the restaurant has launched a Wednesday date-night special designed for two.
At $35 per person, the menu shifts weekly but you can expect soulful Italian comfort food such as chicken parmigiana layered over spaghetti, oak lettuce dressed with white balsamic and warm house-baked focaccia. A glass of mulled wine is included, making it a generous and atmospheric option that feels tailor-made for both first dates and long-time loves.
Lexy Melbourne may technically tip over the $50 mark, but it deserves a mention for turning weekday lunches into a luxe-for-less occasion. For $55, the high-glamour Asian fusion restaurant offers a set menu with entrée, main and side, available Tuesday to Saturday.
It’s an invitation to make lunch the event of the day rather than something squeezed between meetings - and if a few extra dollars buys a little more sparkle, that’s a compromise many will happily make.
Beyond the big cities, regional Australia is just as generous. The Denmark Hotel in Western Australia has become a hub of local hospitality with a rotating roster of weekly specials, all under $50.
Tuesdays bring steak night, Thursdays mean parma and a pint and Sundays finish with a classic roast dinner. Pair it with local wine or craft beer and it’s as much about community as it is about value.
Finally, in Adelaide, 2KW proves that rooftop dining can still be attainable. They regularly offer midweek specials, and throughout September, this includes an updated take on steak and chips - one which pairs a 9+ Wagyu rump with salt and vinegar shoestring fries for just $35. With panoramic views across the city, it’s an experience that feels anything but frugal.
